Lunar New Year

Nearly everyone has tasted a Spring Roll, as they are served in dim sum houses and Chinese restaurants all over America: But a homemade Spring Roll is a rare treat. The roll should have a crackling crisp skin with a filling of fine shreds of mushroom, barbecued pork, celery, cabbage, and just a touch of bean sprouts. Most restaurant spring rolls are full of bamboo shoots, celery, and bean sprouts; have a chewy or soggy wrapper; and are seldom fried in fresh oil. The wrapping dough is available in most Chinese markets, sold as spring roll wrappers, and should be as thin as possible. There are about ten wrappers per package, although most packages do not indicated how many they contain. Keep the dough covered with a slightly damp cloth as you work with it, to prevent it from drying out.

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min

When we were children, shrimp dumplings were our favorite dim sum dish. The classic filling is shrimp and bamboo shoots. The dough is not difficult to make, but it is very important that the water be boiling hot. If it is not hot enough, the wheat starch will not cook and the dough will not work. Wheat starch _(dung fun)_is only available in Chinatown; regular white flour is not a substitute. The tortilla press used here is excellent for making the dough into thin, uniform rounds, but you can also make the dumplings by hand: Roll the dough into scant 1-inch balls. Place one ball between your lightly floured hands and press to form a circle. Press the dough evenly with your fingertips to make it as thin as possible, about 3 inches in diameter and a scant 1/8-inch thick.

A delightful large-format blend of lychees, gin, elderflower, and citrus perfect for festive gatherings like Lunar New Year.

Chewy, spicy, savory tteokbokki is a supremely satisfying Korean dish of crispy rice cakes in a gochujang-based sauce. Bok choy brings balance to our version.

This simple bok choy recipe, flavored with shallot, garlic, and soy sauce, is ideal for when you’re short on time and ingredients.

Umami-rich and flavorful all on its own, this vegan hot pot base is also a welcome palate cleanser when served alongside a spicy broth.

This fiery red broth is a labor of love, but it’s worth it—your hot pot spread depends on a rich, flavorful base.

These mochi-stuffed jujube dates in syrup are the Lunar New Year dessert that’s (almost) too adorable to eat.

A showstopping whole fish is a Lunar New Year staple. Assistant food editor Jessie YuChen’s version is straightforward yet stunning, doesn’t require any special equipment, and did we mention it’s absolutely delicious?

This deeply savory (and vegan!) take on Taiwanese youfan will make a gorgeous addition to any Lunar New Year feast.

Pillowy soft, light, and fluffy, these mantou knots from chef Brandon Jew are a versatile steamed bread dream.

This Hong Kong staple is the ultimate one-pot comfort food.

If the words crispy dumpling skirt don't send you running to your stove, we don't know what will. Instead of steaming these dumplings in water, we simmer them in a vinegary cornstarch and flour slurry that creates a lacy, crunchy golden crust as the water evaporates and the dumplings brown. The vinegar adds tang, but also creates the lightest and crispiest skirt, a pro move we borrowed from Dumpling Galaxy in Flushing, Queens. 

These richly flavored ribs are a riff on kalbi jjim, a traditional Korean special-occasion dish.

What’s better than a jammy egg? One that’s been sitting in a tangy-salty marinade of chiles, soy, mirin, and vinegar, like this classic star of Korean banchan.

Chewy. Crunchy. Salty. Spicy. These veggie-packed fritters have it all.